Lexi Thompson is gearing up for a much-anticipated return at the Grant Thornton Invitational. The mixed-gender event will pit 16 teams comprising a PGA Tour player and an LPGA pro against each other. Like last year, Thompson has once again paired with Rickie Fowler. The $4M purse tournament on December 13 is the last of the LPGA calendar. Is that the last of Lexi Thompson on the Tour as well? 

That answer depends on, well, Lexi Thompson herself. The 11-time LPGA Tour winner announced retirement in May at the US Women’s Open. But 2024 was only supposed to be her last ‘full’ season on Tour. Likely, she will tee up in a few tournaments next year as well. 

In an interview with Golf.com last month, the one-time major winner said, “I’m just stepping away from a full-time schedule. I might tie it up a few more times next year. But you know I’m going to take time for myself, time away, and if I feel good about it, you know, a lot more life to be lived, and if I don’t, I still want to tee it up and play in front of my fans, I will.”

Thompson does have a post-retirement plan, though. The 29-year-old wants to launch her fitness app, then plans to get married and settled. Recently, the 2014 Kraft Nabisco champion also announced that she would sell fan-requested videos—greetings, roasts, golf tips—on Cameo.

Thompson last teed off in the NW Arkansas Walmart Championship netting a T17, her third back-to-back top-20 finish. However, she has been absent on the greens since then recovering from a wrist injury. Lexi Thompson has skipped the LPGA’s Asian Swing but has entered the Annika Driven by Gainbridge, on November 14.

So, this Grant Thornton Invitational may be the last of her in 2024, but unlikely her ‘farewell’. That being said, the mixed-gender event has brought in some new faces in addition to the old ones. Thompson-Fowler is one of the pairings that have remained intact. 

Who else is teeing up other than Lexi Thompson?

Aside from Lexi Thompson and Rickie Fowler, Nelly Korda will pair up with Tony Finau. Whereas, the defending team, Lydia Ko and Jason Day, will return to Florida as well. Rose Zhang has been paired with Sahith Theegala this year too. 

Interestingly, Jeeno Thitikul will join forces with Tom Kim. Whereas Céline Boutier and Matthieu Pavon’s pairing up means there is a French team for the first time in the Grant Thornton Invitational. On the other hand, PGA Tour rookie Nick Dunlap will make his debut paired up with Gabriela Ruffels.

Thompson and Fowler have eleven tournament wins between them. The LPGA icon has bagged four top tens from her 16 appearances this season. Whereas Fowler’s lone top-ten came at the recently concluded Zozo Championship. Last year, Lexi Thompson lit up the field with an ace on the par-3 16th. The duo settled for a sixth-place finish at Naples. The 2024 Grant Thornton Invitational starts on December 13.